Highlights & Evaluation: Louisville WR Commit Shaun Boykins Jr.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville football program has dipped into their own backyard to add to their 2024 class, as Shaun Boykins Jr. has committed to the Cardinals.
Here is Louisville Report's full evaluation:
Prospect: Shaun Boykins Jr.
Position: Wide Receiver
Vitals: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds
School: Radcliffe (Ky.) North Hardin
Top Offers: Kentucky, West Virginia, Central Michigan, Marshall, Miami of Ohio
247Sports Composite Rating (Nat'l Rank): 0.8611 (916th)
Shaun Boykins Jr.'s Junior Year Highlights: HERE (Hudl)
Frame: Boykins has a well developed frame for his height, particularly in his arms and core. He won't need to add too much weight when he gets to college. Also has good overall length and an above average wingspan.
Athleticism: Boykins has a mix of the physical intangibles that you expect from a both a bigger outside receiver and an inside slot receiver. He displays at times upper end agility, footwork and burst, but is a bit inconsistent with it. He does have good open field speed, and a great vertical to boot.
Instincts: Even though Boykins would be one of the bigger scholarship receivers on Louisville's roster at this very moment, his best work comes as a short pass run-after-catch receiver. He does an exceptional job of navigating through traffic and turning the corner while still attempting to go north-south, and also regularly refuses to go down to the first couple tacklers that come his way. While he wasn't utilized much as a downfield threat as a junior, he has shown the ability to adjust his body to the ball and properly read zone coverage to find the hole. He's also great at high pointing the ball.
Polish: As previously mentioned, Boykins was used in a variety of ways for North Hardin's offense. He was used on outside screens, caught swing passes out of the backfield, took reps on the boundary and in the slot, and also ran it some. In RAC opportunities, while it sometimes takes a second for him to get to his top speed, said top speed in the open field is hard to catch up to. Due to slightly inconsistent agility and a lack of regular reps as a downfield receiver, his release off the line does need some work, and his route running could be a lot more crisp.
Bottom Line: Overall, there is some very real potential with this pickup. Boykins will absolutely have to continue to develop as an outside receiver and downfield threat, but receivers of his slightly bigger stature - at least by what Louisville has been used to over the last few years - that excel in running after the catch and have offensive versatility are hard to come by.
(Photo of Shaun Boykins Jr. via Twitter)
You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram:
Facebook - @LouisvilleReport
Twitter - @UofLReport
Instagram - @louisville_report
You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at @Matt_McGavic on Twitter
